1 Corinthians 3

Paul was the first Christian to go to Corinth. He established the church there; that is, he laid the foundation. Now the Corinthians themselves had begun to help in building their church; that is, they had begun to build on Paul’s foundation. Paul exhorts them, therefore, to make sure that what they build is as good as the foundation. Let them not build a hut on a foundation designed for a palace! But each one should be careful how he builds (on the foundation). Those Corinthians, in fact, were building a hut!

11 The foundation of all our work must be Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:19-22 and comment). If the sole foundation of a church is Jesus Christ, then divisions and parties will not arise.

12-13 We can build God’s church using different materials, because we each have been given different gifts and skills. It is better, of course, if flammable materials are not used. But whatever material we use, we must be careful and build diligently.

The Day Paul refers to here is the day of judgment, which will occur at the end of the world. On that day God will examine all the work we have done. And He will test it with fire (verse 13). If we have built a church, God will allow fire or persecution to come upon that church to see if it will remain faithful (Job 23:10).

14-15 if what we have done is in some way displeasing to God, then our work will be burned up, and our reward in heaven will be less—that is, we will suffer loss (verse 15). But we ourselves will not lose our salvation.⁷

For example, if a builder builds a house poorly, that house will later fall down; and the builder, instead of earning his wages, will be forced to pay for the damage. But the builder himself will not be harmed; only his purse will suffer. In the same way, we may suffer the loss of our heavenly reward, but without losing our salvation.

We do not know what kind of heavenly reward God is going to give us for our work. But if our work is good, then God will especially honor us in some way (see Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 John 8).

16 Each Christian has been built together into God’s temple, or church. We believers are the stones of this temple (1 Peter 2:5). God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) dwells within us, within our temple (see 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 2:22 and comments).

17 How can God’s temple, or church, be destroyed? if we, the members—the stones—become worldly and unspiritual, our temple will be destroyed.⁸ Our temple (church) can be destroyed by the sins, the worldliness, of its members. It is destroyed by false teaching, divisions, quarrels, and slander of one member against another. Therefore, let us beware! Whoever destroys God’s church, God Himself will destroy.

18 The Corinthians considered themselves wise. Perhaps they were “wise” in worldly wisdom, but such wisdom is foolishness in God’s sight (verse 19). It is much better to be foolish in the world’s eyes than to be foolish in God’s eyes! (see 1 Corinthians 1:27).

Let us not consider ourselves wise. Rather, let us be humble. Instead of relying on our own “wisdom,” let us seek to learn from God. If the Corinthians had done this, such divisions would never have arisen in their church (see Isaiah 5:21; 1 Corinthians 8:2; Galatians 6:3)

19-20 Paul here quotes from Job 5:13 and Psalm 94:11 (see 1 Corinthians 1:1920,25)

21 Therefore, says Paul, let there be no more boasting about men, men such as Paul and Apollos. Let the Corinthians stop following after men like Paul and Apollos. Rather, let them follow Christ alone (see 1 Corinthians 4:6). If they are going to boast, let them boast in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:29,31). God has given them all things in Christ (see Romans 8:32; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:3). It is because they are in Christ that they have obtained all things. Where, then, is their boasting? Let them rather thank God for His unspeakable gift to them—the Lord Jesus Christ.

22 God gave to the Corinthians the apostles—Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter). But the Corinthians had accepted one and rejected another. Yet they all were apostles; they all were God’s gifts. Why should they have rejected a gift of God? The “wisdom” of the Corinthians was indeed foolishness!

All things are yours. The entire world is ours! The man who is not in Christ belongs to the world. But for the man who is in Christ, the world belongs to him! Christ has complete authority over all the earth, and He has given His authority to us (see Matthew 28:18). But we believers will not only inherit the earth; we will also inherit the kingdom of heaven! (Matthew 5:3,5,10).

23 All things are ours. Except one thing—our own self! All things are ours—but we are not our own. We are Christ’s. We are His servants. He has bought us. He has bought us at a price, and the price was His own blood (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and comment).

All things are ours because Christ is in us and we are in Christ (John 15:4-5). If we stop remaining in Christ, we shall lose all these things which we have been given (John 15:6).

Christ is of God. Just as Christ is in us, so God is in Christ (see John 17:22-23). But Christ is not only of God; He is God. “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).